Coal-tipple.



T. l. WILLIAMS.-

con mm. APFLICATIOI HLED NOV. 16, I9l5. 1,212,723. Patented Jan. 16,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET. I. 6

T. J. WILLIAMS.

COAL TIPPLE.

APPLICATION FILED uov. 16, 1915.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917 3 suns-sneer 2.

W @uuentom Tam/25am;

T. 1. WILLIAMS.

. CQAL TIPPLE.

. u APPLICATION EILEP NOV. l6, ISIS. 1,212,723.

Patented Jan. 16,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THOMAS J. WILLIAMS, COALWOOD, WEST VIRGINIA.

COAL-TIPPLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 16, 1915. Serial No. 61,803.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. WILLIAMS,

" a citizen of the United States, residing at Coalwood, in the county of McDowell and State of Vest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Goal- Tipplcs of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates an improved coal tipple and has as its primary object to provide a device of this character so constructed that cars having solid bodies without seams or end gates, may be employed in connection therewith so that the loss of slack coal along the'mine tracks when the cars are in motion, will be eliminated.

The invention has as a further object, in this connection, to; eliminate the scattering ofdust along the mine tracks which, in bituminous' mines generating explosive gas,- directly contributes to many mine disasters.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved tipple having an exceedingly high capacity with a minimum breakage of coal and wherein the tipple will be automatic in its operation to dump the loaded cars thereon as the cars are advanced.

from the mine tracks to position upon the tipple.

Other and incidental. objects will appear as thedescription proceeds and ,in the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved tipple showing the mounting of the dumping element thereof as well as the manner in.

which the ca rs are held in position upon the platforms of the said element. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view particularly showing the automatic stop mechanism associated with the tipple as well as 'the automatic stop mechanism carried'by each platform of the tipple. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional. view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 and particularly showing the mounting of the stop mechanism carried by the platforms of the tipple. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation more particularly showing the manner in which the stop mechanism for the'tipple is adapted to cooperate therewith, and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View of one of the bumpers associated with the'stop mechanism carried by each platform of the tipple as well as the of spokes pivotal connection between the said bumper and the operating link therefor.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a rotary dumping element including spaced annular members 10, the outer faces of which channeled. Rotatably members 10 upon a shaft 11 are a plurality 12 and the said shaft is journaled for rotation in suitable bearings conventionally shown at 13, one of the said bearings being arranged at each end of the said element. Extending between corresponding spokes of the elements 10 are cross pieces 14 which define a plurality ofplatforms and mounted upon each of said platforms are rails 16 which provide a. track adapted to receive a coal car. Preferably, the dumping element is provided with six of the platforms asmore particularly shown in Fig. 1, each identical inconstruction and for the purposes of illustration, I have shown a coal car upon four of the said platforms and numbered respectively 17, 18:19 and 20. The dumping element may be of any desired diameter and length and mounted beneath the said element to extend laterally therefrom, is a chute 21 adapted to receive the coal as it is dumped from the cars and preferably of a width to extend throughout'the distance between the members 10 of the dumping element, as more particularly shown in Fig. 4. Associated with each of the platforms are pairs of coacting brackets arranged at opposite sidesof the rails thereof, the brackets of each pair being numbered 22 and 23 respectively. Preferably, these brackets extend throughout the entire length of the platforms and the brackets 22 are adapted-to engage over the wheels of a car while the brackets 23 are adapted to enact with brackets 24 carried by the sides of the car, as more pilltlclillafly shown. in Fig. 1. As illustrated in this figme, these brackets will, when the cars are moved to position uponj the'tipple, hold the said cars firmly upon the platforms thereof.

Mounted upon each of the platforms of thedumping element is an automatic stop dinally disposed rock shafts 25 arranged adjacent the rails 16 and each mounted for Patented J n. 16,1917.

supporting the i longitudinal sliding movement in a pair of spaced clips 26 carried by a plate 27 extending transversely between the rails and secured to the spokes 12 of the dumping element at the ends of the platform and to the adjacent cross piece 14. The inner extremitiesof the rock shafts are headed and bearing between the 'said heads and the innermost of the clips 26, are helical springs 28 surrounding the shafts. .Keyed or otherwise connected to the shafts 25 and arranged between the clips 26 are bum ers 29 one of .which is shown in detail in ig. 5. These bumpers are provided with longitudinally curved arms 30 extending laterally there from beneath'the rails and freely received within suitable slots 31 formed therein with the upper ends of the said arms projecting into the path of the wheels of a car moving over the rails. A's-will be noted, the forward edges of the said arms are cut away to receivethe car Wheels. The bumpers 29 are fo1ymed with upstanding ears 32 which freely receive rock pins 33 and pivotally connected to the rock pins are links 34, the outer ends of which are preferably bifurcated to receive-the pins 33and are secured. thereto by a bolt or other suitable fastening i device.

The inner extremities of the links 34 are pivotally connected to a rod 35 extending lon gitudinally between the rails and supported for longitudinal shifting movement by spaced clips 36 and 37 respectively. The bumpers 29 are arranged at any convenient location adjacent the discharge end of the platform and mounted upon the-platform adjacent its receiving endis a trip lever 38 extending upwardly between the rails of the platform and pivotally connected to the adjacent extremity of the rod 35. Pivotally suppo'rting the trip lever 38 are suitable brackets 39 secured to the plate 27. It will now be ob-.

served that a carentering upon the platform will pass over the trip 38 to depress the trip which willaccordingly shift the rod 35 longitudinally and move the links 34 to a position in alinement with each other. The

links will, in turn, accordingly rock the shafts 25 and throw the arms 30 of the bumpers 29 outwardly in opposite directions away from the rails so that a car may pass .from the platform. For returning the arms of the bumpers 'to normalrposition, within the slots 31 of the rails, I employ a helical spring- 40 which surrounds the rod 35 and is arranged to bear between a suitable collar 41 preferably mounted upon the rod and .a stop 42 associated with the rod and en-. gaging the clip 37, the said spring acting to normally urge the, links. 34 to the position shown in Fig. 2.

Arranged to cooperate with the rotary dumping element, is an automatic stop mechanism, the mounting of which is more particularlyrshown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. A track 43 leads from the discharge end of the dumping element and associated with this track at a suitable distance beyond the discharge end of the dumping element is a rock shaft 44 arranged transversely of the track to extend latera ly therefrom upon one side of the dumping element. Projecting upwardly from t is shaft 44 between the rails of the track 43 isa trip le-ver'45 and the said shaft adjacent the outer end thereof is also provided with longitudinally s acedupstanding arms 46 and 47 respectlvey, arranged upon the outer side of the track 43. Mounted adjacent the receiving end of the dumping element with which is associated a track 48, is a rock shaft 49 arranged upon the outer side of the said track and provided with diamctric arms 50 and 51 respectively,the arm 51 being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 Connecting the arm 50 with the arm 47 of the shaft 44 isa rod 52 and associated with thesaid rod is a stop sleeve 53. Bearing between the said sleeve and a suitable collar carried by the rod is a helical spring 54 which surrounds the rod. y

Arranged to pr ject into the path of the spokes of the me'fribers 10 of the dumping element, are stops '55 and 56 respectively which are slidably mounted within suitable sleeves 57 and'are arranged to engage the said spokes 12 of the dumping element adj acent the outer ends thereof. Connectin the stop. 55 with the arm 51 of the sha .t 49 is a link 58 while a similar link 59 connects the stop 56 with the arm 46- of the shaft 44.

It will now'be noted that when the lever 45 is engaged by a car passing along the track 43 from the dumping element, the said levelwill rock the shaft 44 and the stops 55 and 56 will be withdrawn to release the dumping element for rotary movement.

Immediately upon the release of the lever 45 by the car, the spring 54 acting upon the sleeve 53 and the collar carried by the rod. 52, will return the stops to normal position in the path of the spokes of the dumping element. In this connection it is pointed out that the lever 45 is arranged at such distance from the discharge end of the dumping element. that a car emerging from the said element will rest entirely upon the track 43 before coming incontact with the said lever.

In operating the tipple, the rotary dumping element will at all times carry three or more cars, the cars being moved one at a time over the track 48 onto successive platforms of the dumping element as the said element is rotated. Referring more particularly to Fig, 1 of the drawings, the car 18 will be assumeflo be empty. A full car is then allowed to move over the track 48 and upon enterjq'rg the receiving end of the adjacent platform of the dumpingxelefull car then' advances upon the platform,

it willenga e theemptyv car 18 to move it be seen that as each oil of the umping element and onto'the track 43. The full car upon passing over the trip 38 will then release the trip when the s ring 40 of the stop mecltanism associatec with the platform, will return the arms 30 of the bumpers to normal position in the path of the loaded car, so that upon moving to engage the said bumpers, the loaded car will then be locked upon the platformby the bumpers and by the coacting brackets of the platform and of the car. The empty car being ejected from the platform by the loaded "car, will then advance a suflicient distance upon .the track 13 to reach the trip 45 andwill engage the said tripto release the stops 55nd '56. Upon the release of the said, stops, the dumpin element will be freed and 'the weight of the loaded cars thereon will rotate the said element to such position that the full car displacing the car 18- will assume the position of the car 19 in which position of the said loaded car aportion of the coal therein will be dumped into the chute 21.

Attention is now directed to the fact that the. dumping element each time it is released will rotate through an arc of 60 assuming that the'dumping element is provided with six platforms as llustrated in the drawings. Consequently, the said dumping element cannot attain sufficient momentum to throw the coal from the cars and thus cause it to become broken against the chute 21. In this connection, it will be observed that the chute 21 is" arranged close'to the dumping element so that the coal will, asthe cars are tilted, flow gently from the cars.

From the precedin description, it will ullcar is allowed to advance upon the track 43 to the tipple, my improved mechanism will be automatically operated to release the empty'car upon the tipple to be displaced by the full car;

to lockthe full car in position upon the tipple, and to then release the tipple for rotary movement through an arc of 60. As this operation is repeated, a full car-occupying the position of the car 18 shown in Fig. 1, will first assume the position of the car 19, as previously indicated, when it Will be partly dumped and then assume the position of the car 20 when it will be wholly dumped, As the dumping element is then subsequently rotated, the empty cars position of the car= will be returned to the 18 to be displaced by full cars.

In. turning the cars over as'the tipple is rotated for effecting the dumping of the set forth.

cars, I eliminate the necessity of using car bodies having end gates or other dumping means, Accordingly, the bodies'of the cars are eachpreferably integrally formed so that they will'be without seams or cracks.

In this way the loss of slack coal or coal dust along the mine tracks, when the cars,

are in motion, will be eliminated.

It will therefore be seen that I provide a very efficient construction for the .purpose The tipple being autoi'natically operated by cars advanced to position thereon, to efiect the dumping of the cars, will have a maximum capacity, while at,the

' sa metime, owing to the step by'step movement of the tipple, there will be a minimum breakage of coal; Band brakes 60 surround the annular channel members 10 of the dumping element and are secured to oper-.

ating levers 61. These levers maybe connected in any suitable manner and are operated by an" attendant for controlling the.

rotary movement of the tipple under the weight of loaded cars thereon so that the breaking'of coal as it is dumped from the cars willthus be further minimized. These brakes, upon being properly operated, will 3 also prevent the tipple from stoppmg too 55 and 56 from derangement by violent or excessive pounding. Moreover, the brakes being applied by hand will keep the tipple suddenly and in so doing will save the stops under control while in motion and will comto secure by Letters Patf the said element, stop mechanism foiflthe dumping element, and releasing means'for said last mentioned stop mechanism oper; able by a car moving. 01f of the dumping element and en aging with the said means,

2. A device 0 the character described including a rotary dun'iping element, stop by a series of cars successively discharged from the said element for actuating the sa 1d ,mechanism therefor, and means cngageable stop mechanism to release the said, element by astep by step movement.

' 3. A device of the character described including a rotary dumping element, stop mechanism therefor, and meansengageable by a car discharged from the said element for actuating the stop mechanism to release the said elementwith the said stop mechf amsm normally urged to engage the dumpmg element for arresting saidelement in'its.

rotary movement at a predetermined point.

4:. A device of the character describedin cluding; a rotary dumping element, stop' mechamsm normally urged to engage the a car thereon, means e gageable by a car moving onto the platform for shiftin cluding a rotary dumping element, a stop the said stop mechanism to inactive position, stop mechanism for the dumping element, and means engageable'by a. car moving oil of the platform for releasing .the said last mentioned stop mechanism and freeing the dumping element for rotary movement. v.

6. A deviceof the character described inarranged to engage the said element for arresting the element in 1ts rotary movement at a predetermined point, and a trap associated with the said stop and engageable by a car moving off of the dumping element for actuating the stop to release the said element.

7. A device of eluding a rotary dumping element provided with a series of platforms, a stop. arranged in the path of the rotary movement of said platforms to selectively engage therewith,

and a trip associated with said stop and engageable by a car moving off of one of Stud platforms for actuating the stop to release the dumping element for rotary movement.

8. A device of the character described in cluding a rotary dumping element, said element including spaced annular members, and radial spokes supporting each of said members and providing a plurality of platforms upon the said clement, stops arranged in the path of the rotary movement of said spokes at opposite ends of the said element, and a trip associated with said stops and operable by a car moving off of one of said platforms for actuating the stops to release the said element for rotary movement, the said stops being arranged to automatically engage each of the platforms successively.

9. A device of the character described including a rotary dumping element, stops arranged at opposite ends of the said element for arresting the element in its rotary movement, shafts mounted adjacent opposite extremities of said element, lever arms carried by the said shafts, a link connecting certain of said arms, links connecting certain other of saidarms with the said stops, and a trip carried by one of said shafts for engagement by a car moving of ofthe dumpin element to actuate the stops for releasing t e dumping element for rotary movement.

10. A device of the character described in- -link connecting the downwardl the character described inrange to engage the sai element for holding it against rotary movement, rock shafts arranged adjacent opposite extremities of the dumping element, one of said shafts being provided with upstanding'lever arms and the other of said shafts being, rovided with an upstanding'lever arm an with a downwardly extending lever arm, a link connecting one of the lever arms of said first mentioned shaft with the upstanding lever arm of said last mentioned shaft, a link. connectin the other lever ,arm of said first mentione shaft 'with'one of said stops, a extending lever arm offsaid last mentione shaft with the other of saidstops,.yieldab1e means as-- 'sociated with said first mentioned link for urging the stops to-active position in the path of the rotary'dumping element, and a trip ca'rried'by' said first mentioned shaft and adaptedfor engagementby a car moving off of the said element for actuating the links against the tension of said yieldable means to release the dumping element for rotary movement. a

. 11. A device of the character described in-' eluding a rotary dumping element provided with a platform, rock shafts longitudinally shiftable thereon and'grovided with bumpers normally arrange in active position,

yieldable means associated with the said.

shafts for normally holding the shafts against longitudinal.shifting movement and disposed to resistthe impact of the Wheels of a car moving onto the platform to engage said bumpers, means operatively connected to the shafts and engageable by a car for moving the bumpers to inactive position, and stop mechanism engage'able by a car moving oil of the platform for releasing the dumping element.

12. A device of the character described ineluding a rotary dumping element provided with a platform, longitudinally shiftable rock shafts carried by the latform, bumpers mounted upon said shafts and normally arranged in active position with the said shafts adapted for movement longitudinally to takeup the impact of the wheelsof acar moving onto the. platform to engage said bumpers, links swingin ly connectedv to said bumpers, a rod pivotal y connected to said links, yieldable means associated with said rod for iiormally urging the bum ers in active position, a trip lever pivotal y connected to the said rod and adapted for engagement by a car moving onto the platform to shift the bumpers to inactive position, and stop mechanism engageable by av car-moving off of the platform for releasing the dumpurged to active osition for engagement with a car upon the limping element, atrip lever associated with said stop mechanism and engageable b a car moving onto the dumping element tor shifting the said mechanism to inactive position, stop mechanism for the dumping element, and a trip lever ei'lgageable by a car moving off of the dumping element for releasing the said last mentlonedstop mechanism and freeing the dumping 0 element for rotary movement. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS J. WILLIAMS. [11. 5.] 

